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The Who and Why

Who is Freddy Bastone?

Freddy is a man who believes that music is the greatest force in the universe to heal, bring energy, and act as a mood altering drug. With a journey that has included over a dozen #1 Billboard hit singles, a Grammy nomination, and residencies at some of the biggest dance clubs in New York City, Freddy Bastone has become a force to be reckoned with. He is a sought after remixer with credits that include Radiohead, Adele, Rod Stewart, and was most notably the first producer to release an authorized Queen remix. Always keeping sharp eyes and ears to the future, Freddy was the first DJ to use CD decks (Technics 1200) as a DJing platform in America, maintained a influential presence on NYC’s #1 radio station, Hot103, performing the still largely requested “Hot Mixes”, and continues to push his productions beyond the house music status quo. Freddy’s impact on the dance music scene is palpable and undeniable."

No FiLTr LTD is the umbrella under which he disseminates his creativity. The company strives to open the eyes of the fans of the electronic music world and tap into issues that 99% of dance music community would stay way from. They feel that it’s insulting that we’re viewed as a dumbed down community, that corporate america is not in tune with what is going on in the world, and producers are scared of losing face for voicing their views. So they stay safe by putting out cookie cutter, follow the leader tracks instead of music that doesn’t reflect major label agendas, sacrificing creativity and conviction as a result. No FiLTr wants to cultivate a community of people who are visionaries, who know what they want, and know how to get it. They are not in the business of cookie cutter mainstream hullabaloo.

Background From playing his first guitar (Flying V) to getting into DJing at the height of the disco euro electronic age during his first year in high school, the son of restauranteur and jazz musician, Freddy Bastone Sr, grew up immersed in music and nightlife. There were drum battles at home and at the family restaurant with his father during an era where detectives and wise guys hung side by side. Having learned the skills from high school friend, Marquise Quinines, he went from playing school dances to his first major NYC gig at Trax before going off to Danceteria, where German expatriate and club entrepreneur, Rudolf Pieper, and nightlife celebrity, Diane “Queen of the Night” Brill, noticed his talents on a cassette tape that was given to them by then owner, John Argento. With major talents and practice paying off, this led to filling up dance floors at major industry parties, a residency at Danceteria Hamptons for five years, and landing a job in promotions and as a studio consultant to John Lungo (the original remixer). Then it was off to do some A&R at Profile, which netted Paul Hardcastle’s #1 hit, “Rainforest.”

So now having learned the ropes, he was offered head of A&R at Emergency Records under Curtis Urban and Sergio Cossa, churning out the classic house track, Blazé's “Watcha Gonna Do” and Taffy’s “Love My Radio” (#1 Billboard). This was the end of the Danceteria years and the start of the Palladium (Steve Rubell) era, where he had a residency for six years playing Friday and Saturday nights. During this time, his own production work and messing with samples led to the release of the now famed, first sample track to go #1 in America, “The Real Life” under the moniker, Corporation of One, which also went #1 in Europe and Top of the Pops UK. He quickly became a leading remixer in the UK with Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Boy George, Jackson 5, The Temptation’s “Pops Was a Rolling Stone” (Motown Remix LP), Billy Idol, Robert Palmer, George Michael, or better yet, pretty much who didn’t he mix? He scored adeal with Polypro UK and a publishing deal with MCA UK. All this while having his first child (political analyst) Freddy Bastone III.

Success was fast and furious with Yuki Wantanabi, opening Marz in NYC where Freddy had a residency on Friday nights, while mentor, Mark Kamins, played Saturdays. Yuki took Freddy to Japan where he began a love affair with the Japanese audience, returning three times in that same year to open the tech savvy club, Genesis. It was here that Technics offered him the new 1200 CD player that in turn he learned how to play, on the fly, in front of a live audience, teaching himself how to do unorthodox tricks before coming home to the US audience and being the first DJ to use a CD player out live.

There was a changing of the guards with management, which led to Bob Caviano taking over and bringing Freddy to Studio 54 to play opposite Larry Levan (Paradise Garage). He was also approached by club friend and actor, Micheal Santoro, to get into some acting classes with Marcia Hertfrect (Lee Strasberg’s assistant), which became more than acting but therapy for the twenty-six year old. He knew something was right as he was being asked to do supporting parts in off-off Broadway shows, which, in a year’s time, led to lead roles. The most note worthy being “The Bear” (Chekov), and “Hurlyburly" (David Rabe). He quickly signed with an agent and got his first audition on NY Undercover."

Since this beginning, Freddy has guest stared in all the Law & Order's, Sapranos, Third Watch and many other TV shows. He has stared in over 10 films in the last 5 years, including the upcoming “The Curse”, "Circle" and "Lady Rider” with Nas and Fat Joe. In the theater Freddy has recently starred in a one man show of Lenny Bruce, which he did here in the US directed by Susan Batson and in the UK directed by Gary Oldman.

"Back to music, in 1998 Freddy hooked up with Jeffrey Bernstein to make the very successful tandem of Bastone & Burnz . This odd couple of the producer/remixer land had such top hits and #1’s such as J LO's "Lets Get Loud", "The One , Nora Jones’ "Strange Transmissions", Jamiroquai’s "U Give Me Something", Melanie Cee’s “Never Be The Same Again”, Shakira’s "Under Your Clothes", Radiohead, Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, Common, lil Kim and the list goes on. The Bastone & Burnz era lasted untill 2007 when Freddy decided to get back to basics and hit the road DJing. In the last 10 years, he has held residencies in Montreal, Toronto, Washington DC, Mohegan Sun and Sandbar.

"Back in the studio these last years have seen the remix world boom and this is Bastone's world so why not have Adele, Interpol, Jessi J, J Lo, Kim Kameron, Madonna, David Bowie, Frank Sinatra, Gia, and currently working with Billy Idol on a new remix LP to be released in 2016. Lastly, at the top of his priorities would stand his No Filtr LTD, an entertainment company that currently is releasing new tunes from himself and other artists that have something to say. The company was started with partner Kris Pierce. In short it is the "thinking person's dance music" record label. The company is also doing a documentary on the producers of GDM (good dance music). It looks to be a full time entertainment company with music, artist, web series, documentaries, and feature films by 2017.

"The first of the projects are "The Corporation of One” (the first sample track to ever reach #1 pop in the UK "The Real Life”), All Knight Kemist (AKK) who is Bastone and Pierce together in collaboration and Bastone himself as one of the many artist to be presented on No Filtr's very diverse line up.

A Note From Freddy:

“Music is my coffee in the morning (I still have a cup - lets not get crazy). Music is my energizer for meetings, sports, everything. Music has been in my blood since playing air guitar with my baseball bat in my bedroom to the Beatles, Billy Preston, Zeppelin, Queen, you name them. I still do the same thing only the variety of bands has gotten larger. I am very lucky to be making music my life along with love, family, acting, and friends I’ve met along the way. I hope I can share with you my sounds, experiments, and feelings. And please don't be a stranger. BIG LOVE TO THE MUSIC PEEPS, BASTONE.”

Kris "Halo" Pierce

Kris "Halo" Pierce first learned to play the piano at the age of six and within a year began writing and performing in front of audiences. He impressively published his first orchestral piece, Melody’s Theme, at age fifteen, performing it with multiple stringed orchestras to standing ovations, and played first violin in Tampa's Junior Symphony for two years. It was at that point that he decided he need to, had to, do this for the rest of his life.

Eventually finding his way into the electro-industrial scene, his two bands, Mind Static and Haunted Echo, landed record deals in 2000 with Cleopatra Records. By 2005 he had graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences and moved to New York. His first gig in the city was at Electric Lady Studios, where he assisted on tracks with Faith Evans and Snoop Dogg. Working with Wu Tang Clan producer, Scott Free, Kris took over as partner, producer, and manager at Jambetta Music, then home of the The Last Poets, resulting in a Grammy Nomination and Gold Record for Common's The Corner.

Kris soon started mixing bands live, including James Blunt, Cyndi Lauper, and Elvis Crespo, on Whoopi Goldberg's radio show, "Wake Up With Whoopi." He caught the ear of Grammy Award winning producer, Angel Fernandez (David Byrne), who brought him on to program synths and mix tracks for Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and Willie Colon.

During the day he moonlighted at Soundtrack Studios. While there, he worked as a recording engineer for the three Law & Order shows, mixing singles with Evanescence (Call Me When You're Sober) and Guns N Roses (Chinese Democracy), as well as movies with Robin Williams and John Leguizamo. After mixing a small rock musical, The Rockae, he launched a successful career in New York's off-Broadway theatre scene as a production audio engineer for several hit shows, including Altar Boyz, Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's Bright Star and Julie Taymor's critically acclaimed A Midsummer Night's Dream (including the movie, which debuts in theaters nationally June 22, 2015).

With five albums under his belt, his Haunted Echo project has been sponsored by Beats Music and MTV. He produced his latest single and music video, ShapeTracer, in collaboration with Sony Creative and HitRecord.org.

Kris is a three time "Best of Manhattan for Entertainment Production" winner and founder of Halo Askew Entertainment.